Don Shrubshell photo

Survival symbol Jasper, a black Labrador, sunbathes as Allison Felton, a Fulton State Hospital physician, signs her name and the names of relatives surviving breast cancer on a pink firetruck parked this morning at Providence Road and Business Loop 70. A firefighter from Glendale, Ariz., is driving the truck with his dog on a nationwide tour to raise awareness of breast cancer.

With the bright pink firetruck he bought on eBay and a black Labrador puppy he picked up in Jasper, Texas, Dave Graybill arrived today in Columbia on a nationwide tour to promote breast cancer awareness.

Graybill, a firefighter from Glendale Ariz. and a former second-round draft pick of the Montreal Expos, said he wants to make pink in vogue.

"What we’re asking is men - at the very least - support your women by wearing pink," Graybill said, standing in front of a giant steel ribbon he totes behind his truck. "And fire departments, take the" fire trucks "you typically throw away and turn them pink. If I can do it on eBay for $3,200, don’t give me a budget crisis."

Graybill will visit more than 30 cities across the country on this tour scheduled to end Oct. 25 and says he doesn’t ask for donations, only that people sign the truck in black marker.

"If you’ve got 10 bucks for gas, meet me at the station. We’ll work something out," he said with a laugh.

Spectators gathered by the display at Providence Road and Business Loop 70 were moved by the symbol.

Breast cancer survivors Mary Lou Weichelt of Columbia and Becky Franke of Excello climbed into the cab to write their names. Weichelt was diagnosed one year ago and recently lost her sister, Sandy, to breast cancer.

Franke was diagnosed 11 years and nine months ago. She said she’ll never forget the date: "With breast cancer, you get back to that child stage you count the months."

Both women urged vigilance, saying 15 percent to 17 percent of all tumors aren’t detectable in mammograms. Women, they said, need to do self-exams and advocate for themselves in doctors’ offices.

"It’s not something that’s hidden in a corner," Weichelt said.

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